Lincoln in the Bardo

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Published by Random House on February 14th 2017
Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Pages: 343
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley & Random House

The captivating first novel by the best-selling, National Book Award nominee George Saunders, about Abraham Lincoln and the death of his eleven year old son, Willie, at the dawn of the Civil War
On February 22, 1862, two days after his death, Willie Lincoln was laid to rest in a marble crypt in a Georgetown cemetery. That very night, shattered by grief, Abraham Lincoln arrives at the cemetery under cover of darkness and visits the crypt, alone, to spend time with his son’s body.
Set over the course of that one night and populated by ghosts of the recently passed and the long dead, Lincoln in the Bardo is a thrilling exploration of death, grief, the powers of good and evil, a novel - in its form and voice - completely unlike anything you have read before. It is also, in the end, an exploration of the deeper meaning and possibilities of life, written as only George Saunders can: with humor, pathos, and grace.

**Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

OMG … 2017 seems to come packed with outstanding books! This is the second very innovative book I read this year. The topic is very mesmerizing. What becomes of the dead?

Lincoln in the Bardo is my first read for George Saunders. I picked this book unaware of the hype and it was such an interesting read. The book is innovative both in the idea and the writing style. I believe it can be a mark in the literary work. The writing style is strikingly very new to me. I’ve seen nothing like that before. I was confused when I started reading the book, then I got used to it pretty soon. The author used a reporting style. It was like all the events where reported either by the characters within the book or by external books and articles.

The idea of the book too was very innovative. Bordering between fiction and fantasy, the book tackles the tragic event in 1883, the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son William. Reporting on the events of that night, William’s condition was worsening, while the president’s family had to hold a party in the house for their supporters. A doctor had checked William and had expected his condition to improve. Sadly, this didn’t happen. That was the night when the president lost his beloved son.

Struck with grief, the president buries his son. It’s in William’s first night in the graveyard that all the events of the book take place. This is where all the fantasy begins.

The souls of the dead are lingering in this graveyard. Unable to believe they are already dead, they stick to that place unwilling to be lured to cross to the other side. A very sad and thrilling night where Saunders takes us through the stories of the living as well as the dead.

It’s fascinating how Saunders mixes history with fantasy to create this phenomenal book. It’s a novel about love, loss, relations and above all grief. The extent of grief in this book is beyond tolerance. The loss of a child can be the worst and most agonizing loss ever. But there are also all sorts of loss as we listen to the stories and feel the pain of the narrators.

However, what makes the grief in the book more tolerable is the way it’s narrated by the living dead souls. Not only were the narrator spirits witty, but sometimes funny too. A lot to think about and a lot to learn. A very long night packed with too many stories and a lot of regrets.

The book also sheds some light on the personal side of President Lincoln. Amazingly showing not only the weight of his loss but also the extent of his sympathy.

This is a book that you will read nothing like.  No matter what genre you prefer, this is a must read book.